When Larry Brown took over the SMU Mustangs‘ program prior to the last season, the biggest question was not if, it was when he would land a staple recruit to help jump start the program.

Over the weekend, Emmanuel Mudiay became that guy, verbally pledging his commitment to the Mustangs and Brown and instantly putting the SMU program on the radar, even though he will not join the team until the 2014-15 season. Regardless, the ability to land Mudiay is the perfect ingredient necessary to strengthen the expectations for a team now destined for the American Athletic Conference.

Mudiay’s resume speaks for itself. He’s a one and done prospect most likely and the number five overall player, according to ESPN within the class of 2014. A 6-foot-5 point guard from Dallas, Texas, who choose the Mustangs over the likes of nearly every power program in the country, Mudiay is undoubtedly the best overall recruit that SMU has ever landed. That’s a credit to Brown and his staff and now with Mudiay in the fold — the sky is the limit.

Who will follow? How much will their expectations increase in the coming years? Can SMU qualify for their first NCAA Tournament since 1993 once Mudiay steps on campus? These are questions that could not have even been asked had Mudiay decided to play his collegiate ball elsewhere.

However, everything is at the forefront now for the Mustangs and there’s no doubt that Mudiay can be the guy to jump start this SMU program.